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Live from the shipyard on Allure of the Seas: Check out this cruise ship’s $100M glow-up
Ashley Kosciolek
Senior cruise writer
In addition to cruising, Ashley is obsessed with reading, lawn gnomes, pizza, cats, CrossFit, SEO and proper grammar.
March 26, 2025
•
10 min read
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Allure of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, will turn 15 later this year. For the vessel’s birthday, Royal Caribbean is giving it a shiny new coat of paint and so much more during a dry-dock refurbishment that’s costing the line more than $100 million.
When the ship debuted in 2010 as the second member of Royal Caribbean’s famed Oasis Class, it offered more than two dozen bars and restaurants, stand-alone Starbucks and Johnny Rockets locations, two FlowRider surf simulators, a carousel, a zip line, an ice skating rink, and an aft-facing AquaTheater that hosts high-dive performances.
It has always been cutting-edge, but now, with its current dry dock, it’s seeing the addition of several concepts that have proven successful on other ships in the fleet. They include a Playmakers sports bar, the Pesky Parrot and The Lime & Coconut bars, The Mason Jar Southern comfort food restaurant, The Perfect Storm waterslides and a 10-deck Ultimate Abyss dry slide, among other new amenities and face-lifts.
The ship has also been outfitted with 30 additional cabins, including two Panoramic Suites above the bridge (the ship’s control center) which offer 200-degree views of the ocean. The new accommodations will allow space for more passengers per voyage, bringing the new double-occupancy (two cruisers per cabin) passenger capacity to 5,718 people.
When Allure of the Seas emerges from dry dock, it will sail a season of Europe voyages in summer 2025, offering seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades in November 2025. From there, it will sail six- to eight-night Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean cruises.
The vessel is currently under construction at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, and TPG was invited for a tour. Here are photos of the vessel, which is slated for completion in April.
Pesky Parrot
Playmakers
Ultimate Abyss
The Mason Jar
Ultimate Panoramic Suites
The Perfect Storm
Splashaway Bay
Crown Lounge
Adventure Ocean
Teen hangout
Pool decks
Cabanas
Solarium sun deck
Carousel
FlowRider
AquaTheater
Other tweaks
Other tweaks to Allure of the Seas include the replacement of worn signage, new carpeting and soft furnishings in some areas, refinished rock-climbing walls, and the addition of an escape room on Deck 14 where the card room used to be.
Find out more about Royal Caribbean:
- The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises
- Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes explained
- Royal Caribbean cruise ships by size
- Royal Caribbean cruise ships by age
- All you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites
- Royal Caribbean food
- Royal Caribbean drink packages
- Where you can cruise with Royal Caribbean
- How to find the best Royal Caribbean ship for you
- Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program
- How to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise
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Featured image by ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.